23.02.07           6-A-SIDE RESULT 22.02.07 – O’Carrolls 5 – 0 Gen Hack

 

OC’s recorded a fourth straight win last night against a physical and dogged Gen Hack side. While we were worth the 5-0 scoreline (it really could’ve been a few more), the performance was a bit sloppy for spells late in the first half and early in the second. On another day Gen Hack would have been rewarded with a couple of goals, but poor finishing last night let them down. All being said, with a 2-2 draw the last time the sides met, 5-0 is a pretty convincing victory, even if it wasn’t our best display. With bottom of the league RHE left to play, first place qualification is pretty much assured.

 

Gus opened the scoring after some terrific build up play between himself and Neville, and doubled the lead soon after with an equally impressive finish. Three second-half goals from Neville, Hirdy & Tancell (on the third attempt) condemned Gen Hack to their third defeat of the round. Richie had to be at full stretch to tip a cracking first-half strike round the post, and while Gen Hack did find the net late on, the ref denied them the consolation goal for a high ball.

 

And now for some stats!

Of the 220 goals scored in indoor to date, here are the top five scorers –

Neville (45), Tancell (35), Gus (33), Gibbo (23), Dave Walsh (21)

There are a further 58 goals scored by 16 different players, along with 5 OG’s.

Here are the rest of the scorers:

Dave Edge, Dave Meadows, Jobba & James (7)

Tim & Tom (5)

Keith (4)

Alex & Max (3)

Biddy, Russell & Stu (2)

Ash, Hirdy, Ken & Woody (1)

The Editor

 

        22.02.07           7-A-SIDE RESULT 21.02.07 – O’Carrolls 1 – 1 Inter Oranginos

 

Yet another draw last night against Inter Oranginos, but at least we managed to get on the scoresheet. Gus found the net just before the break from all of 20 yards out (with a little help from the keeper) after Inter had taken the lead on about 10 minutes having been awarded a questionable penalty – so an element of luck about both goals.

 

Not a particularly impressive first half display from OC’s as we struggled to contain the pace and movement of Inter. It was only down to poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Matt that the game remained scoreless. They had a pair of very quick forwards who were causing us problems. The opening goal however didn’t come from open play; Inter were awarded a penalty for a push in the back spotted only by the referee, and claimed by not a single Inter player. No mistake with the spot kick – 1-0. Gus levelled matters seconds before half time with a speculative effort from 20+ yards out that squirmed in under the keepers body. 1-1.

 

Second half was a much-improved performance as OC’s played some good football going forward, created a number of decent chances and defended equally as well. It was a scrappy final ten minutes, with the referee happy to let pretty much everything go – much to the annoyance of both sides. In the end neither team could force a winner and OC’s recorded their third consecutive draw. On the plus side, we’ve proved a difficult team to beat. Unfortunately, too many draws have left us facing a top five finish at the very best.

 

Next week is the final game of the tournament, where we’ll meet our old friends America Futbol Club.

The Editor

 

        16.02.07           6-A-SIDE RESULT 15.02.07 – O’Carrolls 4 – 0 Hamstrung United

 

OC’s ‘squared off’ against Hamstrung last night in the game that was probably going to decide who topped the group going into the second stage.

 

The first goal was going to be all-important and it came by way of a penalty on 4 minutes after the Hamstrung keeper stepped out of his area. Gus stepped up and coolly scored to the keepers left – Dave Walsh would have been proud! Hamstrung then pushed on eager for an equalizer before the half ended but the OC’s defense was impenetrable. Tancell doubled the lead before the break with a great strike from a similar distance to last week’s goal against Red Devils. At 2-0 there was never any doubt who was going to win; OC’s were looking very comfortable against last rounds winners.

 

Second half was no different and the frustration was beginning to show in Hamstrungs game. James further extended the lead to 3-0 before scoring the showpiece goal of the game, flicking in from Tancells shot – that one even got a few cheers from the stands. 4-0, job done and done with style.

 

We’ve now come up against Hamstrung seven times and OC’s certainly have the better record with 3 wins and 2 draws from the last five meetings; before that was the abandoned game (in which we were leading 1-0) and the 5-0 defeat the first time we met (two saw red in that game, including Richie).

 

Next week, Genhack. Our previous results against them haven’t been the most convincing; last time out it was a 2-2 draw.

The Editor

 

        15.02.07           7-A-SIDE RESULT 14.02.07 – O’Carrolls 0 – 0 Inter Caramello

 

It was 5th V 1st last night as OC’s squared off against Inter Caramello. The outcome was a scoreless draw, OC’s fourth such result of the tournament and now the fourth game in which we’ve failed to score - what do we have to do?!?!

 

OC’s best chance of the game came after only a few minutes when some great play between Biddy and Gibbo sent James clean through on goal, but his effort was tipped around the post by the Inter keeper. Inter were dangerous on the attack, their distribution was accurate and OC’s defence had to be on their toes every time Inter got into the final third. Their best chance came late in the second half when a flurry of attempts saw the final strike come crashing back out off the crossbar.

 

OC’s should be happy with the performance; the response to the 4-0 defeat a few weeks back has been outstanding. It may be only two scoreless draws, but they’ve been against two quality sides and we’ve looked as strong as them in both games.

 

In the end, the draw was probably a fair result, both sides played some terrific stuff and both had decent opportunities to nick the three points. The only sour note was Inter having a man sent off after his reaction to an OC’s defender accidentally catching him in the face after a poor attempt at flicking the ball back to him. Anybody who knows the OC’s player involved knows not only is that kind of thing not in his nature, but if he had intended to do it, 9.9 times out of 10 he’d have missed!

 

Next week, Inter Oranginos.

The Editor

 

        09.02.07           6-A-SIDE RESULT 08.02.07 – O’Carrolls 10 – 0 Red Devils

 

OC’s strolled to a second victory last night, putting ten goals past the Red Devils. The result was inevitable after OC’s took an early 2-0 lead without ever really exerting ourselves – the sweaty foreheads were solely down to the heat inside the Y. The Devils gave us way too much space and time to pass the ball about and ultimately paid the price.

 

James stole the show with five goals, but the contribution he’ll be remembered for is refusing to pass to Tom to allow him the chance to get on the scoresheet. Jobba banged in a brace, one of which was greatly assisted by some dodgy keeping. Tancell netted his second of the competition intercepting a Nev backpass and driving the ball home from long range. Neville and Gus completed the scoring.

 

That’s the third time we’ve scored 10+ goals in a game and it brings our total goals scored in indoor since February 2005 (62 games) to 211 – an average of almost 3.5 goals per game. Not bad! Next week – Hamstrung United.

The Editor

 

        08.02.07           7-A-SIDE RESULT 07.02.07 – Mighty Mangere 0 – 0 O’Carrolls

 

OC’s earned a well-deserved point last night against Mighty Mangere, but in honesty will be disappointed not to come away with all three points. We have now failed to score in three straight games, our fifth blank since the tournament started back in November; last year we failed to find the net in only one game. Granted, we’re playing in a tougher group this year against better opposition, but it’s not like we aren’t creating the chances.

 

OC’s started this one sluggishly but, on the balance of play, certainly had the better opportunities to score. Mangere created chances like we would have expected them to, but Matt was equal to every attempt that found the target. At the other end Olly, James & Gibbo all came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock but a combination of good keeping and poor finishing conspired against us. Nobody can be faulted for effort last night; it was a terrific response to last week’s capitulation. Our remaining games are against the current 1st, 3rd & 10th placed teams respectively. Realistically, a top five finish is what we have to aim for.

 

Three 0-0 draws have been more damaging to our challenge that our two defeats. Six valuable points were dropped in those games, points that would now have seen us pushing for a top three finish. Next week we face top-of-the-table Inter Caramello… how great it would be to get a result - we’re still capable of an upset lads!

The Editor

 

        02.02.07           6-A-SIDE RESULT 01.02.07 – O’Carrolls 2 – 0 Woftam

 

OC’s recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Woftam last night to kick off the 2007 6-A-Side campaign. The result is a little flattering to Woftam; with about 80% possession, OC’s were well worth a few more goals. Credit to their keeper, he made some great stops to keep the defeat respectable.

 

It had the potential to be one of those games; after Wednesdays demoralizing defeat, a couple of new players, no kits and a narrow 3-2 victory the last time these teams met, a first win over OC’s by Woftam could have been the final chapter in a bad week. It didn’t play out that way though, and we strolled to victory (now four from four against these guys) with great passing and movement and 100% control of the game. Top scorer from the previous round, Neville, opened his 2007 account and Tancell netted another. James was unfortunate not to get his name on the score sheet after a terrific strike came back off the crossbar.

 

A ‘good, steady start’ was how the injured Angus Welton described it; let’s keep that going next week at the more respectable time of 6.35 against Red Devils.

The Editor

 

        01.02.07           7-A-SIDE RESULT 31.01.07 – Go Feet 4 – 0 O’Carrolls

 

A humiliating 4-0 defeat last to the hands of Go Feet in what must be one of our biggest defeats to date.  After a not-so-bad first half, we simply had no answer for them in the second half. They are a good side but we made them look much better. Time and time again we were stretched as they comfortably passed the ball about. We simply are not fit enough at the moment and arguing amongst ourselves after five minutes doesn’t help matters either. None of us enjoy losing. Next week - Mighty Mangere.

The Editor